The Winds Of Fortune Episode 11
Minnie was sitting in the drawing-room, of the Northavens’ home. Her family had arrived three days before, and had been made very welcome.
It all felt surreal – the former life that they’d taken for granted, the painful weeks of loss and change, and now being in a foreign country, back in the lifestyle to which they’d always been accustomed.
Sitting in these luxurious surroundings, it was hard to believe the preceding weeks had taken place.
Yet her father’s absence and the ache in Minnie’s heart reminded her all too forcefully that they had.
She looked around at their new temporary home.
The room was done up in the latest style.
Art Deco lamps stood in the wall sconces and Tiffany shades covered the lamps on the side tables.
A striking fireplace faced a wall adorned with geometric wallpaper, and beautiful Lalique ornaments rested on the mantelpiece.
Today, it was the young people who frequented this beautiful room.
Flora had gone walking with her mother and Edwin was in his study, but the younger cousins were entertaining friends.
Minnie had taken to Cousin Harry from the start.
He was a kind, intelligent man, and had welcomed them warmly and with great sensitivity.
Cousin Violet had made a less favourable impression, and Minnie suspected that the young lady resented their visit.
This afternoon Minnie had been introduced to Harry’s friend, Mr Dodson-Smyth, and they were expecting a visitor, a friend of Violet’s called Alfred.
“Would you like more cake, Minnie?” Harry turned towards her with a smile.
“Thank you, but I’ve had quite enough.”
“If you’re sure. What about you, Pearl?”
Minnie’s sister shook her head.
“Come now.” Harry seemed concerned.
“You haven’t eaten this afternoon. I can cut you a small slice.”
“Very well.” Pearl smiled shyly at him and Minnie was touched by his consideration.
Violet, however, rolled her eyes and pouted at
Mr Dodson-Smyth.
“Ivor, do tell us about the party at Mimi’s the other night. I was devastated not to be there.”
She gave a pointed look in Minnie and Pearl’s direction.
She had already made the two girls well aware that their arrival had prevented her attendance at some social event and inconvenienced her terribly.
Harry frowned at his sister.
“I was more than happy not to go. I doubt it will be of interest to our cousins.”
“There’s little to tell,” Ivor added. “Just the usual round of jazz and cocktails.”
“Such a shame I didn’t get to dance with you, Ivor. I do so love to dance with you.”
Mr Dodson-Smyth coloured slightly and Minnie thought that he seemed very uncomfortable in Violet’s company.
He appeared a polite young man, and she had already enjoyed some intelligent conversation with him regarding the situation in her home country.
“Mr Alfred Maseley.”
They looked up as the butler announced their missing guest, and a dapper young man entered the room.
He was handsome – tall and blond, with a neat moustache and mischievous blue eyes.
He wore a smart suit, his brogues shone and he carried a silver-tipped cane.
“Afternoon. Sorry I’m late,” he announced with a grin, and Minnie got the distinct impression that he enjoyed making an entrance.
He threw himself into a chair and looked around.
“Who have we here?” he asked, casting an appraising glance over Minnie and Pearl.
“Let me introduce you to our cousins. Miss Minnie and Miss Pearl Vandunlan. This is Mr Alfred Maseley, a friend of ours.”
“Pleased to meet you,
Mr Maseley,” the sisters greeted him.
“Oh, you’re Americans. What a charming accent.”
Alfred grinned and cast a sidelong look at Violet, who had moved to sit next to him the moment he entered.
She seemed to have lost all interest in Ivor.
They made small talk for a while, but Minnie’s initial impression of Mr Maseley did not improve.
He seemed to have no interest in politics, literature, or many other matters, and yawned openly when Ivor began to speak about Egyptology.
She wasn’t sorry when he rose to his feet and announced that he couldn’t stay long.
“I was hoping to persuade Violet to take a spin in my new Crossley Sports Tourer.
“Let’s tear up the lanes, Miss Northaven. Much more exciting than a tea party.”
Violet took little persuading and the pair left, leaving the remainder of the party quite content in their absence.
“Are you interested in automobiles, Miss Vandunlan?” Ivor asked Minnie as the door closed.
“I have a Bentley that I love to fix myself.”
“I don’t know a great deal about mechanics, Mr Dodson-Smyth. Although cars are a wonderful invention.”
“They are indeed. I’d be more than happy to take you and your sister for a drive some time, if you would like that.”
“That’s very kind.” Minnie smiled.
“There is a lot of beautiful scenery hereabouts, and we are not very far from the coast.
“Perhaps one day we should take a picnic, if the weather allows.”
“An excursion of some sort might be fun.” Harry grinned at his friend.
“We’ll put our thinking caps on and come up with a plan.”
A lively conversation arose about British politics, and Minnie got drawn into a fascinating discussion about the British system and the differences between the two nations.
Mr Dodson-Smyth was clearly as interested in politics as Minnie herself.
As they got deeper into their talk, she was pleased to see that Harry had turned to her sister and was attempting to draw her out of herself with some success.
Minnie continued to monopolise Ivor’s attention, and he seemed more than happy to let her do so.
When he left, he squeezed her hand and told her warmly how delighted he was to have made her acquaintance.
She was suddenly filled with horror. Had this young man formed a liking for her?
She turned away, her heart pounding painfully and images of Theo racing through her mind.
To be continued…